Seeing The Ear Drum

When you go to your doctor for a "once-over-lightly" checkup he shines a light into your ear and declares it clean - or not. Can he see the ear drum with this kind of looking? Isn't the ear drum hidden behind a membrane? Thanks.

When you go to your doctor for a "once-over-lightly" checkup he shines a light into your ear and declares it clean - or not. Can he see the ear drum with this kind of looking? Isn't the ear drum hidden behind a membrane? Thanks.

The ear drum is the membrane. It separates the outer ear from the middle ear, where the bones are that transmit the sound to the cochlea. So yes indeed, the doctor can see the ear drum - as those of us who suffered with middle ear infections as children know quite well .

The ear drum is the membrane. It separates the outer ear from the middle ear, where the bones are that transmit the sound to the cochlea. So yes indeed, the doctor can see the ear drum - as those of us who suffered with middle ear infections as children know quite well .